Best for Romance - Expert review of Debod Temple

Last updated 7 March 2011

An Egyptian temple in Madrid? No, you're not seeing things.

So what's it doing there? The temple was given to Spain in 1968 in thanks for the work of Spanish archaeologists, who helped salvage the temples of Abu Simbel which would otherwise have been flooded as a result of the construction of the Aswan Dam on the Nile. More than 2,000 years old, it was rebuilt stone by stone, and still faces east-west, as it does originally. Located on a high spot on the western edge of central Madrid, it is a stunning - and undeniably romantic - place to watch the sun set. Just sayin', in case anyone was thinking of asking any important questions while on their minibreak, or anything.

Expert tips:

There are guided tours on Saturday morning, but you have to call to book in advance.

Have you been to Debod Temple? Would you recommended it?

Community comments (1)

We went to the Debod Temple at night so our view was a little different. Still it was pretty cool to see all lit up at night. The temple is pretty close to the Royal Palace so if you're nearby it's only a short walk. There's not much to see but it's certainly interesting.